Weekend of Fun (or stupidity)

I think it would be fair to say that this month has made its way onto my "Top 5 Craziest Months Ever" list. (No, I don't really have a list like that, I'm just saying...) It has been busy, frustrating, challenging, hilarious, exhausting, thought-provoking, fun and terrible... all at the same time. 

In the midst of the mayhem, I had a really fun weekend. I traveled most of last week for work, then ended by flying to Chicago to meet Kelly and Jess for the New Kids on the Block concert. If you knew me in the late 80s/early 90s, you know how big of a fan I was. Ok, and still am. It's funny how songs that you haven't heard in years can instantly come back to you. NKOTB, you were worth the 15 year wait! Here's a shot of my boys:

Jess, Kelly and I had fun times in Chicago!

Some say I'm spontaneous, but I think sometimes spontaneousness equals stupidity. Jess and I had talked awhile ago about going to see Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith in Merrillville, but knowing it was the day after we were driving home from Chicago, we had decided to forgo that one. But... on our way home from Chi-town, we saw the billboard... and were unable to resist. So, just a little over 24 hours after driving from Merrillville to Indy, we drove back to Merrillville for this once in a lifetime (ok, maybe not) opportunity. Saturday evening and Sunday on the way there, we were rocking out to some old-school MWS - the Go West Young Man and Change Your World albums, to be exact. On the way there, a crazy wind storm was blowing corn across the interstate. Welcome to Indiana. We were waiting for a cow to hit the windshield.

Needless to say, it was an awesome concert! We heard great songs, new and old... including "Friends." Ahhh, the memories.

Then we had to drive home.

Getting home at 1:30 am isn't the smartest thing to do on a Sunday night. But alas, we did have a good time in the car pretending to be Jennifer Knapp (and drinking our gas station coffee).

Here's a shot of two of the hottest 40-somethings out there: haha.

Sometimes, all you can do is laugh.

It's been a crazy few days!

Comfort & Joy

One of the things that's good about crappy situations is that I tend to learn something about myself. Here's this week's lesson: When something bad happens, I tend to run for the comfortable and familiar. 

Last weekend, that meant tagging along with Jordan for a quick visit to Nashville, Tennessee, where I spent time with my friend Chelsey. I've known Chels for about 13 years. (Wow. That's a long time.) Even though I only see her a time or two each year now, she knows me, and she gets me. She asks the right questions, and speaks the truth when it's not always pretty. We didn't do anything amazingly spectacular - just kind of hung out. It was relaxing and refreshing. Just what I needed.

Ten hours in the car with good company and good music + ten hours with Chelsey + ten hours of sleep + a quick visit to the Pie and Ice Cream Kitchen with mom, dad, and Emma = the perfect weekend.

Good & Evil

Because this is the Internet, I'm not sharing details of what happened to us last weekend. Most of you already know. I will say that I'm pretty sure it's been the second worst experience of my life. It's going to take awhile for things to get back to normal. 

What I do want to share is how thankful I am to have some really amazing friends. Your prayers, emails, dinners, phone calls, gelato, offers to stay at your place, offers to stay at my place, chocolate, amusement park tickets... and the way you force me to use the "good shampoo" have all been very much appreciated.  

No more being nice to strangers.

I wish we lived in a world where we could assume the best about everyone, and believe people were generally truthful with good intentions. But alas, we do not. 

I am the person who never gives money to those people on the side of the road with the cardboard signs. I never believe them. I'm sure some of them are truly in need, but I would guess most of them are scammers. Sometimes I end up feeling guilty about my unwillingness to help.

I've been feeling extra selfish lately, so when a lady asked me for help today, I decided I would actually try to be of assistance. I'd been studying at Paradise and was packing up my stuff when she came inside and asked me what time it was. I told her. Then she asked if I was leaving, and told me a story about how a family member died, the bus couldn't get her all the way to the church, etc., etc. She simply wanted a ride to a church that wasn't too far away. Seems pretty harmless, eh? 

On the way to the car, our conversation went something like this:

Lady: What church do you go to?

Me: Traders Point.

L: Oh, I knew I had seen you there. Great church. The one with Pastor Steve.

M: Um, no, not Pastor Steve.

L: Right, right. The young guy.

M: Yes, Aaron.

L: That's right. Aaron.

Then as we got in the car and headed out of the parking lot, things began to change... she told me she needed to get to Alabama for the funeral, and something about being on disability, and not getting her check till the end of the week. Long story short, the bus ticket was $319 and she still needed $71. At first I told her no. Then I told her I'd give her $20 or $30. She was convincing. The next thing I knew, I was at the ATM and giving her $80, then driving her to someone's house on 46th St. After all, how much did I spend on new clothes yesterday? The guilt had kicked into high gear. 

As soon as I decided to actually give her the money, I resigned myself to the fact that I would never see it again - even though she promises to give me $100 back. Maybe I can think of it as an investment into the image and reputation of my church. At least now she won't think, "those people from TPCC are stingy and have no compassion." 

As we drew nearer to her destination, it became more apparent that I'd been taken. She tried to talk more about our church. 

L: "I really love that one pastor - the shorter guy with the dark hair."

M: "Oh, I'm not sure who you're talking about."

L: "Wait, he's the blonde guy."

M: "Uh huh."

When she got out of the car, she said, "So I'll see you at church?" Yep, lady, I'm sure you will.

So, people truly in need, I'm sorry, but I'm probably not going to help you because of people like this.

Going, Going, Gone...

Today was a historic day in Indy - the Dome was deflated. Here are a few photos of the view from room 1433 at the Westin.

Then & Now

Then: Summer 2000

Julie and I met when we were in college, a couple days before going to Turkey for eight weeks together. We, along with the others on our team, became fast friends. I even puked on her on the way there, and she didn't disown me. :) 

 This photo is on the way home. I was much less happy on the way there in the midst of my illness.

Here we are before heading out to the middle of nowhere (literally) for our village experience. I was SO sunburned in this photo! 

Now: September 2008

Julie and I hadn't seen each other since fall 2001. Last weekend, we spent a few days together in Phoenix. It was fun to catch up while relaxing at the lazy river at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort. (Yay for points!) Unfortunately, I got sick and spent most of Saturday in bed. But... at least I didn't puke on her again!

Pre-lazy river.

At the pretty fountain. And I don't think we've aged a bit!